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T. J, LAV AN Nov. 10, 1931.

TRACK JACK Sheets-Sheer Filed Feb. v4. 1929 Torgob di Lcwag IggueagtorNQV. 10, 1931. T. 1 LAVAN 1,831,670

TRACK JACK i Filed Feb. 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'Ibozpas c); L-qvqaIaguezJ-tor- .gt-to rageq Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES THOMAS J.LAVAN, or CLEVELAND, omov TRACK .manY

My invention relates to track jacks,- and more particularly to trackjacks for raising railroad tracks and the like, andthe principalobjectof my invention is to provide a new and improved device of this type. Inthe drawings. accompanying this specification and forming a' part ofthis applicationv l have shown, for purposes of illustration, one formwhich my invention may assume,fand in these drawings Figure 1 is atopplan view of this illustrati-ve embodiment of my invention;

'Figure' 2` is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing myinvention mounted on a track, while Figure-3 is a section similar toFigure 2 showing' my inventionsuspending a track.

A In laying railroad tracks and the like it is customary to firstprepare a trench into which the .ties are placed, then to secure'therails to the ties, then to raise the completed trackto its ldesiredheight, and finally to work in the rails 12 of the car 11 ride on rails17 of the track 18. Threecross beams 15 joining the two pairs oflongitudinal rails 12 are secured theretoin any suitable manner while a4platform 16 fixedly mounted on the three crossbeams 15 provides aconvenient support for the operating mechanism carried by the car 11.

Centrally the two pairs of longitudinal rails 12 are cut away to form anaperture extending from the lower edges 0f the rails 12 toadjatent thetop edges thereof, and support plates 19 are secured to the cut awa endsof the longitudinal rails 12 by bolts 20. Two shafts 21 mounted in thesupport plates 19 support two pairs of clamps 22, while two links 23connect one armof each of the pairs of clamps 22 to a solenoid 25; theother arms ofthel clamps 22 are joined by a link 24 conre nected tothecore 45 of the solenoid 25, while Application led February 4, 1929.Serial No. 337,319.

a bracket 26 depending from the central cross beam lsupports thesolenoid 25. y Y F or retracting the links 23 and 24 I provide two coilsprings 44 each having one end secured to a link 23 and the other endsecured to a link 24. n

Secured to the outer edges of the top of the platform 16 bybolts 30 aretwo brackets 28 which extend outwardly and upwardly therefrom and areprovided at their extending ends with vertical apertures 32 havingannular recesses 33, while secured to the lower outer edge of thecentral cross beams 15 by bolts 31 are vtwo brackets 29 which extend areVprovided at their extending ends with vertical apertures positioneddirectly belowi the apertures in the brackets 28. i j

Two screwejacks 34 providing means'for" raising the car 11 and thusthetrack 18`have screw portions 35 screw-threadedly received in bases 36soconstructed and positioned that the bases 36 may reciprocate upanddownin the vertical apertures in the" brackets 29,-

while two collars 37 positioned ,near the tops of the screw portions 35of the screw-jacks 34 are fitted into the annular recesses 33 in thebrackets 28 so that they may rotate therein. 1j

Two worm gears 38, suitably mounted horizontally at the top of the screwportions 35 of the two screw-jacks 34, mesh with the teeth of two worms39 mounted on the eXtend-' ing ends of the' shafts of two electricmotors 40 which furnish the means for actuating the screw-jacks 34. Thetwo motors 40 are ToV suitably secured to the top of the platform' 16,while suitable conductors 42 connect the two motors 40 to twocontrollers 41jsuitably l mounted on the top of the vplatform 16. Acontroller 27 is suitably mounted on the top of the platform between thecontrollers 41v while suitable conductors 43 connect the controller 27to the solenoid 25j ln operation the car 11 carrying the track jack isrun along'the rails 17 of the track 18 to the place where the track v18is to be raised. Then the controller 27 is actuated to energize thesolenoid 25, whereupon the solenoid'25l will attract the core 45-to movehorizontally CTD both the solenoid 25 and the core 45 thus moving boththe links 23 and the links 24 to swing together the arms of the clamp 22to cause the clamps 22 to grip both rails 17. l

The car 11 supporting the rails 17 then is raised by means of the screwjacks 34 positioned along the sides of the rails 12. The screw jacks 34are operated under control of the controllers 41 by the motors 40, thedegree of operation of each of the motors 40 depending upon the distanceif any through which it is desired to raise the corresponding rail 17.The worms 39 on the shafts of the motors 40 meshing with the worm gears38 on the screw portions V35 of the screw jacks 34 form driving units,so that the operation of the motors 40 turns the screw portions 35 ofthe screw jacks 34 and causes the bases 36 of the screw jacks 34 tothereby be forced downwardly along the sides of the track 18.

After the bases 36 of the screw jacks 34 have touched the groundadditional actuation of the screw jacks 34 causes the screw jacks 34 tolift the car 11, and the track 18 depending therefrom, the distance ofsuch additional operation ot the screw jacks 34. As each side of the car11 is raised to the proper height the corresponding controller 41 isactuated to cut off the current to that motor 41, whereupon the screwjacks 34 hold the car 11 carrying the track 18 in a suspended position.

lVhile the track 18 is thus suspended the track 1S is blocked up intoposition wherein ballast can be worked under the track in any suitablemanner, then the bases 36 of the screw jacks 34 are raised by turningthe controllers 41 to reverse the fiow of the current through the motors40 and thus reverse the action of the screw jacks 34. The controller 27is then actuated to cut off the current to the solenoid 25 whereupon thecoil springs 44 will restore the solenoid 25 and core 45 to theiroriginal position thus releasing the clamps 22 from the rails 17. Thecar 11 may then be moved along the track 18 to the next scene ofoperation.

Power for the motors and solenoid may be derived from any suitablesource; in using the car on an electric railway, from the trolley or thethird rail of the railway.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that my invention providesa simple, durable, and efcient track-jack, mounted on the car operablealong the track to be raised, and actuated bv a motor. A very materialadvantage of my invention over the ordinary type of track-jack is thatonly a single operatoris required to manipulate it, also that theoperator can raise one rail of the track, or simultaneously can raiseboth rails of the track, all by the simple operation of moving certaincontrollers. Another material advantage of my invention is that it formsa. compact unit mounted on a car so that it may be conveniently' andquickly moved from one place to another, while still other advantagesare that it more quickly raises tracks and possesses much more liftingpower than hand operated track-jacks.

F rom the above description it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that my invention accomplishes at least the principal object of myinvention, and that my invention provides a new and improved track-jack.t the same time those skilled in the art will appreciate that theembodiment of my invention herein shown and described may be used forother purposes than those specifically pointed out or suggested, andembodies advantages and uses other than those specifically pointed outor suggested herein, and also that this particular embodiment of' myinvention herein disclosed maybe variously changed and modified Withoutdeparting from the spirit'of my invention or sacrificing the advantagesthereof, wherefore it will be understood that the disclosure herein isillustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim: 1

1. A track jack, as for raising tracks, comprising: a car operable alonga track; means on said car for releasably gripping a rail of said track,said means including a pair of clamps for gripping said rail, asolenoid, and links connecting said solenoid and said clamps wherebysaid solenoid is operable to cause said clamps to grip said rail whensaid solenoid is in one position and to release said rail when saidsolenoid is in another position; means mounted on said car for raisingsaid car and thus said track; and separate operating means for actuatingsaid carraising means.

2. A track jack, as for raising tracks, comprising: a car operable alonga track; means on said car for releasably gripping a rail of said track,said means including a pair of clamps for gripping said rail, asolenoid, and links connecting said solenoid and said clamps wherebysaid solenoid is operable to cause said clamps to grip said rail whensaid solenoid is in one position and to release said rail when saidsolenoid is in another position; and means on said car for raising saidcar and thus said track, including a motor mounted on said car, ascrew-jack, and gearing operatively connecting said motor to saidscrewjack whereby said motor is operable thus to raise said car and saidtrack.

3. A track ack, as for raising tracks, comprising: a car operable alonga track; means on said car for releasably gripping both rails of saidtrack, said means including two sets of clamps for gripping the tworails, a solenoid, and links connecting said solenoid and said clampswhereby said solenoid is operable to cause said clamps to grip saidrails when solenoid is in one position and to release said rails whensaid solenoid is in another position; and two means onsaid car forraising said 'car and thus both rails of said-track, each including amotor mounted on said car, a screw-jack, and gearing operativelyconnecting said motor to said screw-jack whereby said motor is operablethus to raise the corresponding side of said car and the correspondingrail of said track.`

4. A track jack, as for raising tracks, comprising: a car operable alonga t ack; means on said car for releasably gripping the rails of saidtrack, said means including a pair of clamps for gripping each rail, asolenoid, and links connecting said solenoid and both pairs of saidclamps, whereby said solenoid is operable to cause said pairs of clampsto grip said rails when said solenoid is in one p osition, and torelease said'rails when said solenoid is in another position; meansmounted on said car for raising said car andv thus said tracks; andoperating means 'for actuating said car-raising means.

A track jack, as for raising tracks, comprising: a car operable along atrack ;av pair of clamps on said carv for i'eleasably gripping a rail ofsaid track, said clamps having scissors-like jaws and actuatingportions; links oppositely movable lengthwise and connected to saidactuating portions for engaging and releasing said clamps; means mountedon said car for raising said car and thus said track; and separateoperating means for actuating said links and said car-raising means.

6. A track jack, as for raising tracks, comprising: a car operable alonga track; means on said car for releasably gripping a rail of said track,said means including a pair of clamps having scissors-like actuatingpoi'- tions, and jaws for gripping said rail, a solenoidl` andoppositely movable links connecting said solenoid and the actuatingportions of said clamps whereby said solenoid is operable to cause thejaws of said clamps to grip said rail when said solenoid is in oneposition and to release said rail when said solenoid is in anotherpc-siticn; means mounted on said car for raising said caran'd'thus saidTrack; and operating means for actuating said car-raisin g means.

7. A track jack, as for raising' tracks, comprising: a car operablealong a track; a pair of clamps on each side ofsaid car i'or releasablygripping one of the rails of said track, each pair of clamps havingscissors-like jaws an d actuatin portions links oppositely movablelengthwise and connected to the actuating portions of each pair ofclamps for engaging and releasing said clamps; means mounted on said carfor raising said carand thus said track; and separate operating meansfor actuating said links and said car-raising means.

8. A track jack, as for raising tracks, coinprising: a car operablealong a track;rmeans on said car for Vreleasably grippingthe rails ofsaidtrack; said-means including apa-ir of clam-ps at. each sidebffsaid.car, having:

scissors-likev actuatinggportions; and jaws,\ a

solenoid, and` oppositely movable links conf.

nectin'gsaid solenoid'andsaidvclampsat both sides-fof. said car, wherebysaid-1 solenoidy isoperablea-tocausesaid clamps to grip saidrails whensaid solenoid is in one position:

and to release: saidV rails when said' solenoid isfin. another position;meansmounted on said car `forl raisingsaid car andthus saidk track;and-separate operatingmeansffor'actiuating saidcar-raisin .means. v

9; A track jack,as orraisingtracks, com-' prising: means forreleasabl'y. gripping ara-il.

ofsaid track, said means inclludingia pair of clamping members forigripping said rail, a.V

l0. A track, jack, as for raising tracks,` comprising; afcaroperable-along av track; means on said: car or/releasably gripping av`rail' lof said track; means for raising said car: and thus said track,including: a motor mounted on said car, a screw-j ack, and worm:

gearingv directly connecting said motor tol said. screw-Jack; andseparate operating` means for actuating; said gripping meansandsaidcar-raisingmeans.

f 11." A .track jack, as for 'raising 'tracks comprising: Ya caroperable along a. track; means on said car for releasably gripping arailof said track;` screw-j ack means mounted 'on said car 'for raising;said carV and` thus said trac-k, said screw-jack means comprising spacedbracket members secured;- to saidcar, one of said: bracket membersvcarryingr a; screw confined to rotatable movement; and

theV other bracket member slidab-ly carrying a' base member having,threaded-engagement with said screw; and. operatingA meansfor actuatingsaid rail-gripping means and said screw-jack.

-12. A track jack,` as for raising-tracks,i

comprising: a car operable along: a. track; means on said-car for:releasably gripping a rail of said track; screw-jack means; mounted onsa-idear .for `raising; said car and thus said track, said screw-jackmeans comprising spaced bracket members secured to said car, one of saidbracket members carrying a screw confined to rotatable movement, and theother bracket member slidably carrying a base member having threadedengagement With said screw;voperating means for actuating saidscreW-jack comprising a motor mounted on said car and connected to saidscrew-jack by gearing; and means for operating said rail gripping means.

13. yA track jack, as for raising tracks.v

comprising: a car operable alonga track;

yso

means on said'car for releasably grippin a rail of said track; means onsaid car or raising said car and thus said track, including a motormounted at each side of said car, a screw-jack mounted at eachV side ofsaid car, and'worm gearing directly connecting each of said motors ktoone of said screwjacks. v

14. A track jack, as for raising tracks,

comprising: a car operable along a track;

means on said car for releasably gripping a rail of said track; means onsaid car for raising said car and thus said track, including a motormounted at each side of said car, a screw-jack mounted atv each side ofsaid car,

and Worm gearing directly connecting each.

of said motorsto one of said screw-jacks; control means, whereby saidmotors are selectively operable to raise one side or the other of saidcar and said track or both sides in unison; and operating` means foractuating said rail-gripping means.

l5. A track jack, as for raising tracks, comprising: a Vcar operablealong a track; means on said car for releasably gripping a rail of saidtrack; means on said car for raising said car and thus said track,including an electric'motor mounted at each side of said car, ascrew-jack mounted at each side of said car, and Worm gearing directlycon? necting each of said motors to onevof said screw-jacks, each ofsaid motors having a separate controller by which the motors may beenergized leither separately or in unison.

16. A track jack, as for raising tracks, comprising.: a car operablealong a track;

means on said car for releasably gripping a' iail'of said track; meanson said car for ra1s ing said car and thus said track, including anelectric motor mounted at earch s1de of said car, a screw-jack mountedat each sidel of said car, and gearing connecting each of said motors toone of said screwjacks; means comprising a separate controller for saidmotor, whereby said motors are selectively operable to raise one side orthe other of said v car and said track or both sides in unison; andseparate operating means for actuating said rail-gripping means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature. I

THOMAS J. LAVAN.v

